SONY Unveils New UBP-X700/K UHD Blu-ray Player 

While new Blu-ray players have become increasingly rare in today's market, physical media still maintains a devoted following. Sony has responded to this enduring passion with the announcement of their compact UHD Blu-ray player, the UBP-X700/K, scheduled for release in Japan on May 17th at an approximate price of 51,700 yen through Sony's direct retail channels.

The UBP-X700/K succeeds the UBP-X700 model introduced in June 2018. Like its predecessor, this refined player offers comprehensive disc compatibility, including 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray, standard Blu-ray, 3D Blu-ray, CD/DVD, and SACD. At its heart is Sony's precision Drive HD optical mechanism, engineered to deliver exceptional reading accuracy across various disc formats. The unit also features a dedicated audio HDMI output terminal and supports both Dolby Vision and Hi-Res Audio playback.

The most significant departure from the previous model lies in its network functionality. In a notable shift toward disc-centric performance, the new UBP-X700/K has eliminated support for streaming services such as YouTube, Prime Video, and Netflix, while also dropping compatibility with Spotify Connect.

Audiophiles and cinephiles will appreciate the player's 4K upscaling capability, which elevates standard Blu-ray content to near-4K resolution. Additionally, it incorporates Sony Pictures Entertainment's HDR-to-SDR conversion technology, ensuring that even viewers using non-HDR 4K televisions can experience the nuanced gradations and rich color palette intended in HDR content.

In terms of audio performance, beyond SACD playback, the UBP-X700/K excels with its comprehensive Hi-Res Audio format support. The player handles FLAC, WAV, PCM, AIFF, and ALAC files at resolutions up to 192kHz/24-bit, as well as DSD files up to 11.2MHz (supporting DSDIFF/DSF, excluding DST compression). For everyday listening, it also accommodates AAC and MP3 files, enhanced by Sony's Digital Music Enhancer technology, which elevates compressed audio to deliver a more refined listening experience.

The connectivity suite includes dual HDMI outputs for separate video and audio signal transmission, complemented by a coaxial digital audio output. The player operates with a power consumption of 15W (0.35W in standby) and features a sleek, compact form factor measuring 320 × 217 × 45mm (W × D × H) and weighing approximately 1.4kg.

Further elevating the viewing experience, the UBP-X700/K incorporates Sony's TRILUMINOS Color technology, which renders intermediate tones—such as the emerald green of ocean waters—with remarkable naturalness and subtlety, producing rich color gradations. Film enthusiasts will also appreciate the 24p True Cinema feature, which delivers native 24p output for authentic, cinema-quality playback, preserving the original cadence and fluidity of theatrical presentations.